Control mechanism for propellers



May 15, 1923. 1,455,431

. T. A. DICKS CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PROPELLEHS Filed'June 3O 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 auto-mud 1 May 15, 1923.

I 1,455,431 T. A. DICKS.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PHOPELLERS Filed June 50, 1921 4 sheetg sheet 2 iii?) min- 'F7L ah i May 15, 1923. 1,455,431

T. A. DICKS CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PhOPELLERS Filed'June 50, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 attozweqs Patented May 15, 1923.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFIFICEQ THOMAS A. DIOKS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO STANDARD STEEL PROPELLER COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL MECEANISNI FOR PROPELLEBS.

Application filed June so, 1921. Serial No. 481,600.

To all whom it may comm:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. DICKS, a subject of Great Britain, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Control Mechanism for Propellers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper'tains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in control mechanism for propellers, and more particularly to means for adjustin and reversing the angle of pro eller bla es while in motion,one object 0 the invention being to provide simple and efficient means whereby quick action in the adjusting or shifting of the propeller blades shall be. se-

cure

' A further object is to provide mechanism. for the purpose stated, which shall be positive in operation, comprise a minimum numher of parts, and which shall be reliable in theperformance of its functions.

A further object is to-so construct control mechanism for angling. and reversing propeller blades, that the driving power of.

the ropeller shall be simultaneously regulated as to speed and power in accordance with the changing angularity or adjustment of the blades from one position to another, as occasion may require during the p maneuvering of the machine.

A further object is to so constructcontrol mechanism of the adjustable blades of an aeroplane or hydroplane propeller,

' that the. angularity of the blades may be 40 easily and accurately adjusted to give the best results during the startin of the flight of the machine; so that t e angle of the blades may be readily increased and the efiiciency of the engine increased when the machine is in flight; so that the angle of the blades may be quickly brought to neutral position when the machine is to make a landing and then reversed so that the propeller will act as a brake may be enabled to start or stop the engine independently of the automatic control.

A further object is to so construct and arrange control mechanism for the reversible blades of the propeller of an aeroplane or similar machine, that the same can be handled with one hand and without interfering with other movements of the operator in handling the machine.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consistsiin certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a, plan view of mechanism embodying my im-- provements andshowing the application of the same to an aeroplane; Figure 2 is a side elevation; Figure 31s an enlarged detail view showing the latch devices for the carbureter control'rod; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views, (Figures t and 5 being taken at right angles to each other) and showing parts of the mechanism which is connected with the propeller blades for adjusting them and Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views showing the details of the hand lever and handle constructions. In the drawings, I have shown at 1,,the front portion of the crank-case of an engine mounted in the fuselage of an aeroplane, the

operators seat in the latter, being shown at 2. The projecting portion ofthe engine shaft 2 enters and is keyed to the tubular hub 4 of a propeller and the forward end of said shaft may be threaded to receive a nut- 5. The tubular hub may be interiorly'threaded near its outer end to receive a sleeve nut 6 which bears against the nut 5 in a manner to serve to lock the latter. The propeller hub is provided with arms 7 on which the innervend portions of hollow metal blades a may be angled or their angular-it reversed.

I The circular inner end 4 catTe ortions o the blades may be provided wit bands 8, each of which is provided with. a perforated lu 9,--the lug on one blade-band being dispose in a position diametrically opposite the lug;

on the other blade-band. These perforated lugs receive pins 10 which project laterally from members 11' mounted to slide longitudinally on the outside of the hub, so that. when said slide members are moved, rotary motion will be imparted .to the propeller blades for adjusting their an larity; The slide members 11 are carried y a sleeve 12 mounted on the propeller hub 4, and said sleeve is rotative connected, through the medium of suita le anti-friction. devices, with a control ring 13,-the latter being provided with diametrically oplposite angular enlargements 14, and from t e latter, pmtles 15 project. v

A bracket 16 is securely fastened tothe crank-case of the engine and, is provided with pairs of guides 17 to receive the angular enlargements 14 on the central ring 3 to guide the movements of the latter and prevent the same from turning. The bracket. 16 is provided with a laterally projecting tubular member 16 and the latter is supported at its outer end by a bracket 18 secured to the frame-work of the machine.

A shaft 19 is mounted in the bracket 16 and its tubular lateral extension 16 and said shaft has secured "thereto, a forked .or yoke-lever 20,the free ends of the latter formed with perforated bosses 21 diametrically opposite each other to receive the pivot of links 22 and these links are provide at their rear ends with suitable openings to receive the pintles -on the control ring 13. The yoke-lever is thus connected with the control ring 13,

. so that when the shaft 19 is turned, the 'conlades for turning them.

trol ring will be .moved in such manner as to slide the arms or members 11 and'impart movement as above explained to the A.:1ever 22 (of therwalking beam' type) is secured centrally between its ends to the projecting end of the shaft 19, and a simiar lever or walking beam 23 is secured to, the outer end of a shaft 24, the latter being mounted in a. suitable bearing in a bracket 25 secured tothe framework of the machine near the cockpit thereof. The upper arms of the respective levers. or walkin beams 22 and 23 are connected by a r or pitman 26 and their lower arms are connected by a similar rod or pitman- 26.

The hub portion at the lower end of a control lever 27 is mounted on a stud 28 projecting from the bracket 25 and carries a pinion 29 to mesh with atoothed segment 30 secured to the shaft 24,-the purpose of a socketed nut 39 revolubly plunger is trol lever 27,-said bell-crank being so normall disposed that; its gpivotal mounting will e on a dead center with relation to the ivotal connections of the link 34 with said ell-crank and with the slide, whereby-the worm 32 will be locked against movement in a direction away from the se mental rack 33. To the other arm of the be l-crank 35, one end of a rod or link 36 is pivoted and'the other end of said rod or link is pivoted to an arm 37. A tubular handle 38 is connected with the control lever 27 throughthe medium of a handle-bail 38 in which said'handle is revolubly mounted.

The arm-37 above referred to is secured to mounted in the tubular handle 38 and having therein spiral ribs 40 which cooperate with spiral grooves 41in a plunger 42 located within the handle 38. The plunger 42 is provided at one endwith a head 43 having an angular socket 44 to receive a similarly shaped stu'd 45 carrietl by a plate 46 attached to the bail 38', to prevent said plunger from turning. The

retained in and returned to its normal position relatively to the socketed nut 39 by means of a spring 46 which encircles said plunger and bears at one-end a ot erend of said spring bearing against a collar 48 which loosely encircles the plun' gerand bears against a shoulder. 49 in the handle 38. A finger-lever .50 is pivoted to an arm 51 rojecting from the handle andprovided with an arm 52 which engages in a groove, '53 in the lunger head. When the operator grasps t e handle 38 of lever 27 and presses the fin r lever 50, the plunger- 42 will be with rawn a ainst the resistance of the spring 46 an the socketed nut 39 will be turned, thus moving the arm 37 and transmitting motion, through the the finger lever 50 shall have been released,

will operate to cause the slide the spring 46 31 to movetoward the segment 33 and the inst a' collar 47 v secured thereto,-the" ployed: The shaft ofthe now be explained in detail.

worm 32 to again mesh with the latter such movement of the slide being assisted by the action of a spring 54 attached at one end to said slide and connected at its other end with the lever 27,and the lever 27 may thus be locked in any position to which it maybe moved to hold the blades of the propeller at any desired adjustment.

In order to provide means for effecting slight adjustments of angularity of the propeller blades and for operating the control lever 27 when the pressure is too great on the mechanism to permit said lever to be operated with the use of the handle 38, the devices now to be described may be emworm 32 is extended beyond one of its bearings and has secured thereto,- a bevel pinion 55. The shaft of a hand wheel 56 is mounted in a suitable bearing on the slide 31 and carries a bevel pinion 57 meshing with the bevel pinion 55. It is apparent that by turning the hand wheel 56, motion will be imparted to the worm 32 and the 'meshing of the latter with the worm rack 33 will cause' movement of the control lever to effect blade adjustment as above explained. V

In the control ofthe angling and reversing of the blades of an aeroplane propeller, the speed and'power of the driving engine to meet'varying conditions resulting from the adjustments of the propeller blades, are important factors. If the blade angle be lessened, decreased driving power will be required and unless the gas mixture be reduced, the engine will speed up. When the blades are moved to neutral positions, in changing the angularity to reverse the action of the propeller, the gas mixture must be cut ofi as the blades pass the neutral positions; otherwise the engine will race to a very high speed and possibly result in damage thereto and to the propeller, and when the blades reach the reverse angularity, the gas mixture must be turned on again to the right amount to keep the propeller at the proper speed. To meet the conditions above outlined, my improved propeller control mechanism includes means for controlling operation of the en- :gine simultaneously with the adjusting of the propeller blades, and with the use of a single control lever 27. These means will A cam plate 58 is fitted on the hub portion of the control lever 27 and is provided with an arm 59 lying parallel with a portion of the control lever,said arm being provided with a transverse slot 60 for the accommodation of a bolt 61 whereby the cam plate may be adjustably secured in position. The plate 58 is provided with a cam-way 62, with which a roller 63. carried by a two-part arm 64. cooperates; 'l f'he arm 64 constitutes one member of an approximately on the bracket 25 at 66. The upper end of the-lever 65 is connected, byv means of a rod 67 with the up er end of alink 68,

the lower end of the atter being pivotally L-shaped lever 65 pivotally-mounted supported by a small bracket 69 secured to the framework of the fusela e. The pivot pin 70 which connects the ro 67 with the link 68, projects laterally and enters a slot 71 in a bar 72 which forms part of a rod 73'leading to and connected with the carbureter. control (not shown). A plate or lever 74 is pivotallymounted on the bar portion 72 of the rod 73, a latch. 75 is pivoted, the hooked end of the latter being pressed (by a spring 76 bearing against a .toe 77 on said latch and against a part 78 of the bar 72) to position to engage the pivot pin 70 and retain' .the same'normally at one end of the slot beefi'ected in accordance with the shape of the cam-way 62,the latter being so shaped as to cause operation of the carburetter control in a manner to control the operation of the. engine during different adjustments of the propeller blades, as previously mentioned.

In order that the operator may be enabled to control the carbureter independently of the automatic control above described, for the purpose of starting or stopping the engine, a hand lever 80 is provi ed. This and to this plate,

the cam plate 58 will also be moved and operation of the carburetter control will lever is located within convenient reach of the operator, and it is connected by a rod, 81, with thepivoted plate or lever 74. By

moving the hand lever 80 rearwardly motion will be imparted, through the rod 81 to the pivoted plate or lever 74, first to release the latch from the pin 70 to disconnect the: automatic control rod and then to move said rod to effect operation of the carburettercontrol. l

Various changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to restrict myself'to the precise details herein set forth.

Having fully described my inventionwhat I cla1m as new and desire-to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. In control mechanism for propellers, the combination with a justable blades, and adjusting means connected with said blades, of ashaft, a forked lever secured to said shaft and connected propeller having adlateral tubular extension,

with said adjusting means, a walkin beam lever secured to said shaft, a contro lever,

a second walking beam lever, gearing between said last-mentioned lever and said control lever, and rods connecting the respective walking beam levers.

2. In control mechanism for propellers, the combination with a propeller having adjustable blades, and adjusting means connected with said blades, of a bracket having parallel guide arms for guiding said adjusting means, said bracket having a a shaft mounted in said bracket and its tubular extension, a forked lever secured to said shaft and connected with said adjusting means, a second lever-secured to said shaft, 'a control lever, connection between said control lever and said second lever, and means for locking and for releasing said control lever..

3. In control mechanism for propellers, .the combination with a propeller having adjustable blades, and adjusting means for said blades, of a control lever, connections between said control lever and the blade adjusting means, an engine control member having a slotted part, a cam operable by the control'lever, a lever having an arm cooperable with said cam, a pivoted link, a rod pivoted at one end to said last mentioned lever, a pin pivoting the other end of said rod with said link, said pin entering the slotted part of the engine control member, a latch normally engaging said hand pin, a hand lever, and means connecting said lever with said latch, whereby movement of said hand lever will release the latch from said pin and then move the engine control member.

4. In control mechanism for propellers, the combination with a propeller having adjustable blades, adjusting means for said blades, and an engine control member, of a control lever, connections between said control lever and said blade adjusting means, means operable by the control lever-for si-' multaneously operating said engine control member, a manually operable lever, and means operable by said last-mentioned lever. to disconnect the simultaneously operable means from the engine control member and move said member to control the starting or-stopping of the engine.

5. In control mechanism for propellers, the combination with a propeller having adjustable blades, and means for adjusting said blades, of a control lever, connections between said control lever and the blade adjusting means, a segment having, worm teeth, a slide on said lever, a worm mounted in said slide, and means for moving'said slide to move the worm out of andinto mesh with theworm teeth of said segment.

6. In a control mechanism for propellers, the combination with a propeller having adjustable blades, and means for adjusting segment, a

said blades, of a control lever, connection be tween said control lever and the blade adjust ing means, a segment having worm teeth, a worm mounted in said lever and adapted to mesh with the worm teethof the hand wheel, and gearing between said hand wheel and said worm.

7. In control mechanism for propellers, the combination with a propeller having adjustable blades, and adjusting means'for said blades, of a control lever, connections between said control lever and the blade teeth, a slide mounted on the control lever, a worm carried by said slide and adapted to mesh with worm teeth of said segment, means carried by said lever to operate the slide to move the worm out of and into mesh with the worm teeth of said segment, a hand wheel carried by said slide, a pinion carried bv said worm, anda pinionoperable by said hand wheel and meshing with the first-mentioned pinion.

8. In control mechanism for propellers, the combination with a propeller having adjustable blades, and adjusting means for said blades, of a control lever connections between said lever and the blade adjusting means, a toothed segment, a slide mounted on the control lever, an engaging member carried by said slide for cooperation with the toothed segment, a bell-crank on said lever, a link connecting one arm of said bell-crank with said slide whereby a dead-center-lock may be formed from said slide and engaging member, and means carried by the control lever and connected with the other arm of the bell-crank for moving said slide and engaging member. a

9. In control mechanism for propellers, the combination with a propeller having adadjusting means, a segment having worm v justable blades, and adjusting means for 10. In control mechanism tor propellers,

the combination with a, propeller having ad! f justable blades, and adjusting means for said blades, of a control lever, connections between said control lever and the blade adjusting means, a toothed segment, an engaging member mounted on the lever for cooperation with said toothed segment, a tubular handle on said lever, a socketed nut mounted in said handle and having internal spiral ribs, a plunger mounted in said handle to enter mid In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence 'of two suhscrib- 10 mg witnesses 4 THOMAS A. DIOKS.

Witnesses;

MAX NEUMABKEB, F. H. ALmsoN.- 

